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2018 COTS Walk theme is ‘gratitude’

From Staff Reports
Published 7:31 p.m. ET April 14, 2018

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COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter) was founded back in 1982. Find out how it's grown since then.

The stone concept for this year’s COTS Walk was inspired, in part, by Gracia Lenois, a 6-year-old girl in Bellows Falls, who just after Thanksgiving, sent in a shoe-boxed-sized package full of rocks — pet rocks, complete with googly eyes, and a message.(Photo: Cortesy)

“Gratitude” is the theme of the 29th annual COTS Walk, presented by National Life Group, set to kick off at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6, from Battery Park in Burlington.

The COTS Walk is a family-friendly community event that educates people about homelessness and helps get our community closer to the time and place where no one is homeless. The Walk — the largest single-day fundraiser for the Committee on Temporary Shelter — is a critical part of the organization’s overall fundraising for the year. This year’s fundraising event goal is $200,000.

For the past few years, COTS has selected a Walk theme that centers around the organization’s core values and programs. Last year, the COTS Walk theme was “transformation,” as symbolized by the butterfly (in honor COTS’ guests’ new beginnings and the opening of COTS’ newly renovated housing and program space at 95 North Ave., Burlington).

This year, the COTS Walk focuses on “gratitude” — as in grateful to the community for its kindness and support. COTS marked its 35th anniversary of service to the community on Dec. 24, 2017. This year’s COTS Walk is part of COTS’ 35th Anniversary celebration.

“Gratitude” is symbolized throughout the COTS Walk by the stone, as in “gratitude stones” for participants to carry and use for reflection, as well as in Cairns along the Walk route to function as “guideposts”). The stone concept for gratitude was inspired, in part, by Gracia Lenois, a 6-year-old girl in Bellows Falls, who just after Thanksgiving, sent us a shoe-boxed-sized package full of rocks — pet rocks, complete with googly eyes, and a message.

Gracia wanted to bring smiles to COTS’ guests, volunteers, and staff that inspired grateful hearts. Burlington cartoonist Rachel Lindsay even included Gracia’s pet rocks walking the Walk into this year’s COTS Walk T-shirt, which she designed. (To help engage children in the COTS Walk, visit www.cotsonline.org or COTS’ Pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/cotsvt/ to find ideas for books to read with children, stone-theme arts activities, and much more.)

COTS serves about 2,400 people (including 855 children) annually and is the largest provider for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Vermont.

The Walk is the one day of the year that the nonprofit opens its shelters and programs to the community so people can see how their donations make a difference and learn more about the day-to-day challenges people who are homeless face. Through the support of sponsors, all money raised by walkers goes directly to services. About 50 percent of COTS’ annual operating budget comes directly from community support.

The 3-mile Walk begins at Battery Park, then winds through downtown Burlington, visiting COTS shelter, housing, and program spaces, before returning to Battery Park. About 2,000 walkers of all ages — from schools, social and religious organizations, businesses and neighborhoods — participate. About 200 volunteers help make it happen, too. Along the route, the COTS Walk includes children’s activities, face painting, music, and free Ben & Jerry's ice cream for walkers. (A shorter route is available, particularly designed for families with young children.)

To register for the Walk, visit www.cotsonline.org. There is no minimum fundraising required for participation. However, to earn a COTS Walk T-shirt, walkers need to raise at least $150 (or $75 for age 12 and younger).

For Walkers who elect to go the extra mile by taking the “COTS Walk Challenge” and pledging to raise $1,000, a generous challenge grant will match these donations. Challenge Walkers will receive a COTS Walk T-shirt, water bottle, and special recognition at the COTS annual meeting. (COTS Walkers can take the Challenge as a Team with a goal of raising $2,500 for the match.)